SnagFilms started in 2008 as a documentary streaming website and has expanded into a broader video streaming and media business that also owns Indiewire. In February the company launched ViewLift, an end-to-end platform for the distribution and monetization of video content. ViewLift builds customized applications for phones, smart TVs and Xbox, stores video, provides analytics, and sets up content monetization systems in exchange for a licensing fee. The company says ViewLift powers the entire stack, positioning SnagFilms as both a content owner and a distribution technology provider. SnagFilms is doubling down on ViewLift as its newest product while continuing to operate its streaming properties. An SEC filing shows the company raised nearly $3.9 million in debt and securities as part of a prospective $4 million round and added producer William Durkin to its board. SnagFilms operates a free, ad-supported streaming service that distributes independent films online and through mobile and connected-TV apps. Rather than charging a subscription fee, the company inserts advertising into movies and makes titles freely available. Its apps run on iPhone, iPad, Android devices and Xbox Live, and it supports devices from Yahoo TV, Panasonic, LG, Western Digital, Google TV, Roku, and Boxee. SnagFilms also offers VOD through cable systems including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Dish Network, and DirecTV, and lists films on storefronts like Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, and Vudu. The company had roughly 4,000 titles and planned to expand that library to 5,000 by mid-year, and intends to use new funding to add titles and launch on additional apps and devices. Financially, it announced a new $6 million raise as it expands platform distribution. SnagFilms operates a curated, sponsor-supported on-demand library of more than 3,000 fiction and non-fiction titles. The service is available on over 100 devices (including 95% of tablets and all Android smartphones), OTT platforms and connected TVs, and across a digital network of more than 110,000 affiliated sites. SnagFilms has expanded transactional distribution with Comcast and FiOS VOD, iTunes, Hulu, Amazon and YouTube Movies, and plans launches on DIRECTV, VUDU, Samsung Media Hub and XBOX Live. The company reports its titles have been featured across more than 3.5 billion pageviews on its network. Future plans for the new funding include extending the film library, continuing technology development for delivery across all digital platforms and devices, and broader marketing across channels. The company closed a new financing round and added debt capacity to support these initiatives. SnagFilms operates a free, ad-supported streaming service featuring a library of over 2,000 documentary titles and shareable video across the web. The company has expanded into transactional channels (Comcast VOD, Verizon FiOS) and iTunes sales and launched an iPad app. SnagFilms reports profitable operations and substantial private backers, and plans to add fictional and foreign independent releases to its catalog. It also intends to grow its indieWIRE unit, whose traffic has increased tenfold since acquisition. The service has delivered over 2 billion web pageviews and more than 325 million minutes streamed across 100,000+ affiliated sites and partners like AOL, Comcast, Hulu and IMDb.

Total raised

$27M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Jul 2015